CHL Can Now Play NCAA - Changes Everything

[Kingpin794]

Now official. The BCHL's two flagship franchises are bolting and will both be in the WHL by 2026/27.

 

[Corso]

Now official. The BCHL's two flagship franchises are bolting and will both be in the WHL by 2026/27.

One now begins to wonder if the AJHL will allow those who bolted back in? I would venture to guess that they will make it as uncomfortable as possible but good sense will prevail and they will be back in the fold.

 

[Bubbles]

One now begins to wonder if the AJHL will allow those who bolted back in? I would venture to guess that they will make it as uncomfortable as possible but good sense will prevail and they will be back in the fold.

They might as well. It would just be easier for them travel wise.

I guess Chilliwack wants to try again even though they failed the last time.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

The Jack Willson decommitment seemed like an obvious case of Michigan wanting to open up a spot for a big name, likely from the CHL, so Mews coming in for 2025-26 absolutely fits. Would be a big get by Naurato after a couple weak classes/birthyears for Michigan's standards.

Michigan really doesn't have to bring in any of their recruits for 2025-26 with the exception of Cole McKinney. They can send everyone back to junior for further development if they want. They have plenty of room for CHLers. Would think Naurato is going to be hard after McKenna, Misa, Martone, Smith, Roobroeck, McQueen, etc from the high end CHL pool

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Michigan really doesn't have to bring in any of their recruits for 2025-26 with the exception of Cole McKinney. They can send everyone back to junior for further development if they want. They have plenty of room for CHLers. Would think Naurato is going to be hard after McKenna, Misa, Martone, Smith, Roobroeck, McQueen, etc from the high end CHL pool

Park would bolt for another school, but otherwise I agree.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Park would bolt for another school, but otherwise I agree.

Yes true, just feels like Michigan will have at least 4-5 open roster spots to add big time guys from the portal/CHL. Seems like they're starting to get privately aggressive with both pools

 

[Favin]

Cayden Lindstrom will be heading to Michigan State next year

 

[MTU34]

Cayden Lindstrom will be heading to Michigan State next year

Well we’ve been waiting on the first big domino and there it is

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Well we’ve been waiting on the first big domino and there it is

Now we wait on Gavin McKenna's decision

 

[Favin]

Well we’ve been waiting on the first big domino and there it is

I believe there is a another big domino expected to fall any minute.

 

[MTU34]

Now we wait on Gavin McKenna's decision

That’s not imminent is it?

I believe there is a another big domino expected to fall any minute.

Now I’m very intrigued

 

[Hockeyville USA]

That’s not imminent is it?


Now I’m very intrigued

Plenty of rumors/heating up about McKenna's representatives having clients who went to Michigan. Seems like a 50/50 shot for McKenna returning to the Dub versus going off to the NCAA

 

[2Mototik2]

Plenty of rumors/heating up about McKenna's representatives having clients who went to Michigan. Seems like a 50/50 shot for McKenna returning to the Dub versus going off to the NCAA

IDK about that. I would say there's definitely some smoke for him to be in the NCAA next year, but I think people have kind of worked or willed themselves to a "50/50" chance for him without any real solid evidence.

Not to pick on you or anything because I have seen your point elsewhere, but McKenna's reps also have clients who didn't go to Michigan or didn't even play NCAA.

 

[Corso]

Plenty of rumors/heating up about McKenna's representatives having clients who went to Michigan. Seems like a 50/50 shot for McKenna returning to the Dub versus going off to the NCAA

He's represented by CAA and yes, they do have some high-end clients that went to Michigan.

 

[wickedwitch]

So I suppose the question of who is next depends on whose season ends first. But at this point, I'm guessing neither McKenna nor Misa are playing another season in the CHL. Too much smoke there. But there haven't been the same amount of rumors regarding Martone or Schaefer. Defense is the one area where NCAA >>>> CHL in recent years, so I could see that being a good move for Schaefer.

 

[Corso]

So I suppose the question of who is next depends on whose season ends first. But at this point, I'm guessing neither McKenna nor Misa are playing another season in the CHL. Too much smoke there. But there haven't been the same amount of rumors regarding Martone or Schaefer. Defense is the one area where NCAA >>>> CHL in recent years, so I could see that being a good move for Schaefer.

Pretty sure Misa will sign an ELC but you never know....

 

[WarriorofTime]

Pretty sure Misa will sign an ELC but you never know....

Misa might make NHL. He feels physically ready to me. I think he'll talk it out with the drafting team and make a decision based on whether they see him as a Day 1 guy or not. Another option if it's more 50/50 in the eyes of the drafting team could be that he plays a year in college and then gets NHL games at end of the season.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

So I suppose the question of who is next depends on whose season ends first. But at this point, I'm guessing neither McKenna nor Misa are playing another season in the CHL. Too much smoke there. But there haven't been the same amount of rumors regarding Martone or Schaefer. Defense is the one area where NCAA >>>> CHL in recent years, so I could see that being a good move for Schaefer.

I’ve seen some Michigan rumors for Martone.

Schaefer is the player where there’s been next to nothing.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Pretty sure Misa will sign an ELC but you never know....

I feel this is a flawed framing.

Why not just say you think Misa will want to bypass the NCAA and play NHL/OHL instead?

For like 95% of these players I don’t think it matters to them much when they sign their ELC, especially compared to what is the best developmental path. I think the best developmental path is the outsized part of the decision.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I feel this is a flawed framing.

Why not just say you think Misa will want to bypass the NCAA and play NHL/OHL instead?

For like 95% of these players I don’t think it matters to them much when they sign their ELC, especially compared to what is the best developmental path. I think the best developmental path is the outsized part of the decision.

I think you will see a lot of player wait and make a decision with the team that drafts them tbh. If the team wants them in camp then they are signing an ELC and then to the CHL if they don't cut it. Otherwise they can push them to the NCAA if they want to slow play it a year. I think for the vast majority they would benefit from a year of college hockey, but without doubt there will be NHL teams that are in a rush to get their prospects in house.

 

[OSA]

I feel this is a flawed framing.

Why not just say you think Misa will want to bypass the NCAA and play NHL/OHL instead?

For like 95% of these players I don’t think it matters to them much when they sign their ELC, especially compared to what is the best developmental path. I think the best developmental path is the outsized part of the decision.

For many of those players, they will also want to participate in prospect tournaments, experience NHL training camp and play in pre-season games. These will be factors in why many will sign their ELC.

 

[Corso]

I think you will see a lot of player wait and make a decision with the team that drafts them tbh. If the team wants them in camp then they are signing an ELC and then to the CHL if they don't cut it. Otherwise they can push them to the NCAA if they want to slow play it a year. I think for the vast majority they would benefit from a year of college hockey, but without doubt there will be NHL teams that are in a rush to get their prospects in house.

NHL teams will certainly have a lot to say in guiding the process. Mentioned this a lot before but the way the next CBA is structured and the new NHL-CHL agreement will really decide as to how things play out.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I feel this is a flawed framing.

Why not just say you think Misa will want to bypass the NCAA and play NHL/OHL instead?

For like 95% of these players I don’t think it matters to them much when they sign their ELC, especially compared to what is the best developmental path. I think the best developmental path is the outsized part of the decision.

I think the poster you quoted displays flawed thinking on this topic.

When a player signs an ELC there is a couple of things that happen

1) They are turning professional and will play in the NHL or AHL from that point. For every player that comes out of the NCAA, this is what occurs because they forfeit any remaining NCAA eligibility.

2) They are sent back to their Junior team in the CHL and their ELC slides a year. This occurs per the NHL-CHL Transfer Agreement.

For every player drafted out of the CHL prior to this year, there was no distinguishing factor between 1 and 2 that would delay a player from signing an ELC once one is offered. The ELC prevented them from playing in the NCAA, but before this year, playing in the CHL already forfeited their NCAA eligibility so that would not be a factor in their decisionmaking process.

It is not the "signing of the ELC" itself that is considered the major milestone for a player. While occasionally a surprise player would make the team out of camp, players typically have a pretty good sense on if they are going to be in the NHL or slid back to junior before training camp. I would expect we'll see a lot more players and agents having open and honest discussions with their drafting team about when the team realistically believes they will be ready for NHL opportunity before they just rush to sign an ELC and forfeit any possibility of NCAA eligibility.

 

[Corso]

For many of those players, they will also want to participate in prospect tournaments, experience NHL training camp and play in pre-season games. These will be factors in why many will sign their ELC.

For sure that will have an impact

 

[WarriorofTime]

NHL teams will certainly have a lot to say in guiding the process. Mentioned this a lot before but the way the next CBA is structured and the new NHL-CHL agreement will really decide as to how things play out.

Similarly flawed on the assumption that NHL teams take issue with players in the NCAA or view it as a less desirable path. There is no indication of that as teams have never really shied away from NCAA prospects in recent history (basically ever since they got rid of the provision that NCAA players had to wait one extra year to get drafted which opened a floodgate of NCAA-bound NHLers)

NHL teams are certainly going to want to clear up how long they hold the Reserve Rights of a player that goes CHL -> NCAA. That will be the big "question" for the CBA, but it is not one that should be particularly difficult to resolve.